Wave control and control circuits



SCP- 22, 1942- M. G. CROSBY 'WAVE CONTROL AND CONTROL CIRCUITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 25, 1938 INVENTOR mh- BY LIIGZ'ROSBY ATTORNEY Sept. 22, 1942. M G, CROSBY 2,296,630

WAVE CONTROL AND CONTROL CIRCUITS Original Filed May 25, 1938 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

69 H .91'I @54mm/E ,o 0 EFFECT E 5 Fig. 5

Cf XCI INVENTOR MUR/M Y? ckosy, BY

Mnl-W ATTORNEY Sept. 22, 1942. M, G. CROSBY WAVE CONTROL AND CONTROL; CIRCUITS Original Filed May 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 m vA Fly. 7

CARR/ER SOURCE MODL/L 770N INPI/7' INVENTOR MURRAY G. CROSBY BY /wvf/h- ATTORNEY utilized in explaining the manner 'Patented Sept. 22., 1942 Murray G. Crosby,

Radio Corporation of of. Delaware Riverhead,`v N. Y., assignor to America, a corporation Original application May 25, '1938, Serial No.'

209,919, 110W ,Patent N0. 2,250,095, dated July f v1941, Serial No. 398,727j

Claims. (Cl. 179-1-1715) This is a division of my application serial No.

209,919, filed May 25, 1938, now U. S. Patent No. l

2,250,095, dated July 22, 1941. This application concerns a .new and improved voltagel control means of the reactance tube type and the application of the same to new and improved signalling circuits such as frequency and phase modulators. The novel reactance tubes are inaccordance with my invention used to vary the tuningl of anycircuit such as, for example, an oscillator or amplifier tuned circuit. In my invention I apply the principles of push-pull and cascade lamplification to reactance tubesl known in the art so as to provide greater 'and more grees of reactance Variation.v

Reactance tubes as referred to above have been disclosed in Travis United States applications linear de- Serial No. 4,793,1iled February- 4, 1935, and Serial` v No. 19,563, filed May 3, 1935. Improvements on the reactance tube referred to.in general above have also been disclosed in my United States applications Serial No. 165,056, filed September 22, 193'?, now Patent No. 2,156,374, dated May 2, 1939, and Serial No. 167,344, filed October 5, 193'?, now Patent No. 2,156,375, dated May 2, 1939.

In describing my invention reference will be made to the attached drawings wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a novel reactance tube sys- Atem including means for amplifying, one of the voltages supplied in phase quadrature to the reactance tube electrodes to thereby increase the reactive effect of the tube. The phase displacing` circuit for producing the substantially phase quadrature potentials used to obtain the reactive effect is placed in the coupling circuit between the reactance tube and the amplifying reactance tube'. In this modification controlling voltages from any source are supplied'to electrodes of the amplifying reactance tube and the reactance tube to thereby control through a greater range the reactive effects;

1941. 1 Divided and this application June 19,

substantially phase .quadrature voltages are obtained on the electrodes of the reactance tube;

Figures 5 and 6 are vector diagrams used in explaining the circuits of Figures 3 and 4; while Figure '7 is a phase modulator circuit utilizing a reactance tube in a novel manner to control the phase of wave energy being amplified in accordance with signalling voltages.

In the circuit of Figure 1 cascade amplification is utilized to amplify the phase shifted substantially phase quadrature feedback voltage of the reactance tube. Ordinarily the plate alternating voltage of the reactance tube is fed back to the grid by means of a phase Sluiter which imparts a 90 degree phase shift to the voltage. In this known system, however, are not amplified. VSuch a system would be as if the tube 3 of Figure 1 was omitted .and the phase quadrature voltages supplied from the anode 6 of tube 2 directly to the phase shifting circuit,` CIRI and from the adjacent terminals of Figures la and lb are diagrammatic showings of an oscillator and a wave amplifier which may be controlled by the reactive effect produced in the reactance circuit of Figure 1 to produce frequency and phase modulation respectively;

Figure 2 is a modified reactance circuit'wherein a pair of reactance tubes have their electrodes supplied with controlling potentials in push-pull and their output electrodes in parallel to thereby increasethe reactive effect and at the 'same time improve the linearity of said effects with respect to the controlling potentials;

Figures 3 and 4 are phase shifting reactances in which 4the 55 thereof of tuned circuit CIRI directly to the gridy I0 of tube 2. Under these circumstances, assume that voltage from any circuit to be controlled is-supplied to theterminal of lead 5 and from of tube 2 and from anode 6 to the right-hand terminal of CI (tube I8, circuit I2, and condenser II omitted). The value of resistance RI is made small as compared tothe reactance of the condenser CI so that the current through ther/circuit is largely reactive and-leads the voltage by about degrees. Since the voltage drop through RI is in phase with the current the phase quadrature relation between the radio frequency potentials on Bl and I0 necessary for the reactive eiect is obtained. The tube reactance, that is, the reactance between electrodes 6 2. connected to any radio frequency circuit may be utilized to control the reactance of the said circuit. This reactive effect which may be considered inductive or capacitive .is in turn controlled by the potentials supplied to the controling potential lead I3 and from lead I3 to control grid I0.

' In my improved circuit yI amplify one of the voltages supplied substantially in phase quadrature from anode 6 to control electrode IIL In the circuit of Figure 1 the alternating current voltage supplied from the circuit, the reactance of which is to be controlled is supplied to anode 6 from lead 5 and to coupling condenser I I and from condenser I I to the control grid electrode I8 of an electron discharge tube 3, amplified in said tube 3 and supplied from the anode .I6` I2 and-fed from the high the voltages fed` back lead 5 to the anode 6- and Il of tube phase shifting circuit.

voltage end of tuned circ'uit I2 to the phase shifting and coupling condenser CI and from the latter condenser to the control grid I8 of reactance tube l2.

The cathodes I4 and 20 of tubes 2 and 3 are .connected to ground by bias resistor and bypass condenser units 2| and 23 respectively. Grid biasresistor RI serves also as a phase shifting resistance. the tube electrodes as desired in the usual fashion from sources of potential not shown.

RICI Aconstitutes the phase shifting circuit which shifts the phase of the amplified alter- Operating potentials are supplied to` ther advantage of 4this'type of' reactance tube circuit lies in the'fact that. the phase shifting circuit RICI may be made such as to very lightly load the tuned circuit which is being controlled. For example, if'- the reactance tube cir-v cuit of Figure I is connected Aat 5 to lead 29 of Figure 1a, the reactance tube circuit places alight load onftheloscillator circuit, including natlng voltage supplied from the anode I6 of tube 3 and applies it to the `grid I0 of amplifier tube '2. This phase shifting circuit may be re'- pla'ce'd by a tuned transformer or any other Grid leak I5 and resis tor RI are used to.apply voltage from lead I3 connected vwith any control voltage -source to Y the control grids I0, I8 of tubes 2 and 3, respec-y tively, to thereby vary the overall gain of both of these tubes and consequently vary the effective reactance at the plate 6 of tube 2. When controlling potentials suchas modulating potentials are applied to the lead I3 they produce reactive effects which are supplied between 5 and ground or cathode I4.

This reactive'effect may be utilized as illustrated in Figure 1a to frequency modulate an oscillator. For example, by connecting lead 5 l to lead- 29 this effect may be'used to control the reactance of a tuned circuit 3l of an oscillator system including tube 32 to thereby frequency modulate at signal frequency the oscillations produced in the tube and system and sup- -plied from 3| to a radio frequency amplifier, fr equency multiplier, etc., in 34. Frequency modulated energy from 34 may be supplied to any load such as, for example, `an aerial 35.

Moreover, the'reactive effect produced as described above between anode 6 and cathode I4 may be applied to an arrangement such ,as shown in Figure 1b to produce phase modulated oscillations. In Figure 1b vwave energy from any source 40 is supplied to tuned circuit 42 and from circuit 42 to the control grid 44 of an electron discharge tube 45 and from the amplified energyis supplied from the anode 46 of 45 by way of tuned circuit 48 to a power amplifier and/or frequency multiplier and/or limiter 49 v and from 49 to any load circuit such as for example, an aerial 50. Now, if we connect the anode 46 as to the lead 41 and connect the reactive effects modify the reactance of circuit.

48 and thereby vary the phase of the wave energy supplied by tube 45 to unit 49 in accordv ance with the controlling potentials supplied to lead I3. These controllingl potentials may represent signals.

. The circuit of Figure 1 has for a primary advantage vthe factthat' the lover-all again of the reactance tube 2 is increased due to the cascade amplification supplied by tubes 2 and 3 operating together. actance obtainable from a reactance tube is dependentupon thegain or amplification of that tube, an increase of that gain willincrease the amount of variable reactance available. A furtube 32 and tuned circuit 3| and therefore operating difficulties such as maintenance of substantially constant mean oscillating frequency, etc., are materially reduced. With a singleA reactance tube as known in the prior art in order to produce high degrees of reactive variation,

resistance RI must be lowered to values whichappreciably load the `controlled or modulated v tuned circuit such as, for example, the tuned circuits 3|v of Figure -1a and 48 of Figure 1b;-

.In my novelcascaded amplification .reactance system, the effective loading produced by the reactance tube may be made very light so that the variable reactance will have a high effective .circuit 'Q Hence, for phase modulation purbe required if the Q of the reactance tube were lower. Modulations -or controlling potentials are applied to the control lgrids of either one of the tubes 2 and 3, singly if desired orasv shown to both of these tubes or the modulat- Since the amount of variable reing or controlling potentials from I3 may be applied to other electrodes of one or both of the tubes 2 and 3.

Obviously, my novel reactance circuit is par- A ticularly applicable to variable tuning systems 'wherein the frequency of a receiver is automatically controlled in accordance with controlling potentials obtained \in frequency discriminating circuits or otherwise. terminal 5 of the reactance tube system of Figure 1 is connected to the tuned circuit of the receiver heterodyne oscillator and as before, the automatic frequency control potentials are applied to the lead I3. More details as to the application of a' reactance tube of any type and in particular of the reactance tube of the'present invention to automatic frequency control systems have been described in detail in my United States applicationsl Serial No. 16,591, led April 16, 1935, now Patent No. 2,123,716, dated July l2, 1938, and Serial No. 171,820, filed October 30, 1937, now Patent No. 2,163,747, dated June 27, 1939, and in my United States Patent No. 2,065,- 565, dated December 29, 1936; No. 2,042,831, dated June 2, 1936,-No. 2,076,175, dated April 6, 1937, and No. 2,085,008, datedJune 29, 1937.

In the novel circuit of Figure 2, I apply the principles o f push-pull to thereactanc'e tubes' 61` 66 for the purpose of producing large reactive effects which more linearly follow the controlling potentials supplied .from any source to a jack 10 and a transformer 69. In this arrangement the leadv 5 is again adapted to be connected to any tuning circuit, the frequency of which is to be controlled, and voltages from which are supplied to the anodes 12, 14 oftubes 61, 68, respectively.

These voltages are also supplied to coupling condensers 85, 81 and from said coupling condensers to phase shi-fting resistances RIR'I respectively.

The voltage from RI is impressed on the control Y grid 89 of tube 61 and this phase shiftng circuit is completed by connecting a capacitive reactance CI to the 'cathode 9| .of tube 61. The controlling potential circuit .to'grid 89 is completed- In this case,

through a/,resistor 93 connected to one 'end of the secondary winding of transformer.- Resistance 93 also completes-the direct current cir` cathode 9|. The voltages supplied by 81 to R| are supplied therefrom to the control electrode` 94 of tube 68 and the phase shifting circuit isv completed by an inductive reactance LI connecting control grid 94 through one of a pair of bypassing condensers 95 to the cathode 91 of tube 4 It is noted that the inductance L| also has a' double purpose since it completes the direct current circuit between the control grid 84 and cathode 91.

Tube 61 has its plate voltage fed back to its grid by means of a phase shifting circuit R|C`| and coupling condenser 85, while tube 68 has its feedback voltage applied to its grid by means of phase shifting circuits R'ILI and coupling condenser 81. By virtue of the fact that one of 'the tubes obtains its feedback voltage from a capacitive reactance drop and the other obtains its feedback voltage from an inductive reactive drop,

the eiect-ive reactance variable at the plate cir.- cuits of the two tubes will be opposite for equidirectional element voltage variations. M will be noted, the controlling or modulating potentials are supplied by means of a push-pull transformer to the controlling electrodes- 88 and 84 so that the tubes are controlled or modulated in phase displaced relation with respect to eachother.

When the potential supplied to the control grid 80 goes up the capacity reactance effect is increased so that the reactive effect of tube 61 is increased. Simultaneously, the control potential supplied to the grid 94 goes down and this increases the inductive reactance of tube 84. In

other words, the capacity and inductive effectsl of the tube 61 `vary in phase as a consequence of the phase displaced control thereof.

The reactive effects' are added in the outputs A which are in parallel and may be suppliedfrom the lead 5 to any circuit to be controlled. For' instance, lead 5 may lbe connected to leads 28 or 41 of the modifications shown in Figures 1a and 1b to produce frequency or-phase modulation,v respectively, in the same manner as described in connection with Figures la and 1b.

The push-pull reactance tube circuit described above produces a larger and more linear reactance variation which will allow of a greater degree of control of the modulation of the -potentials supplied to 'the reactance tube, for example, to the jack 10 and transformer 68 of vFigure 2. Consequently, a greater and more faithful degree of frequency 'or phase modulation can be produced.

Obviously the tubes of Figure 2 which are in parallel as to the reactive' effect may also be modulated or controlled in the same direction by the -controlling or modulating potentials. Where the tubes are controlled differentially as in Figure 2 the amount of-coritrol or modulation of each tube may be adjusted by moving the taps 'I' on the secondaries of transformers 68 and |21 ci center. Then one tube is'modulated over a greater range than the other. In this manner the linearity of the produced reactive effect may be improved in some cases. i v

In Figure 3, I have shown a phase shifting eircuit such as, yfor example, used in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a vector diagram of the voltages obtained f l 3 by this phase shifting circuit. in Figure a, E is the applied voltage such as, ,for example, the voltrent through this circuit is largely resistive andv is in phase with the voltage as shown by the arrowhead indicated byI in Figure 5. The reactance drop across condenser CI will be degrees out of phase with the current so that XCII is 90 degrees out of phase with E as shown.

Figure 4 shows the phase shifted ycircuit for an arrangement such as shown at CIRI in Figure 1; Figure 6 is the vector diagram illustrating the manner in which the phase shift -is obtained in this latter circuit. The reactance of condenser C2 is made large as comparedwith the resistance of R2 with respect to the frequency of the voltages involved so that the current through this circuit is` largely determined by the condenser.

the current through this circuit. Consequently,4

the drop across R2 is 90 degrees out of phase with the voltage E and the required phase shift is efrfected.

Of course', I do not limit my invention to the use of reactance tubes including the reactance amplifying effect disclosed in this application. Obviously reactive circuits as illustrated in Figure 7 may beiused -to'phase modulate wave energy within the spirit of my invention. AIn this circuit the' reactance tube |40 has a grid electrode, that adjacent plate |42, and its/athode 4|44 connected to a source of controlling or modulating potentials |45. The reactance or output of the tube |40 is connected in shunt to the tuned cir-I 7 the control grid |52 and cathode |44. 'Ihe reactive effects produced between the anode and cathode of tube |40 tune the circuit TC to modulate the phase of the Wave energy supplied from the carrier wave source |56 to the control grid |53 and cathode |55 of ampliertube |48. The

' phase modulated wave energy is supplied to any utilization circuit which may include' frequency multipliers, limiters, etc., as shown.

'I claim: v

1. In a wave length modulation system, a tube reactance of the type wherein alternating current voltages to be modulated flowing in. a tuned circuit are impressed substantially in ,phase quadrature upon vtwo of the tube electrodes and its gain varied in accordance with signals to produce a variable reactive eiect between Vthe said tube electrodes to vary the reactance of said tuned circuitand thereby the wave length of said voltages, means for increasing said reactive effect and' thereby improvingsaid Wave length modulation including an additional tube havingl input andoutput electrodes, means for impressing one of said voltages on thev input electrodes of said additional tube for amplifying said one of said impressed voltages, and phase shifting means for impressing said amplied voltage on an electrode of said first tube substantially in phase quadrature with the voltage on the other electrode of said rst tube.

azzt'ance/l coupling `a source i constant oscillating voltages to modulated to; a utilizationlcircuit, 4a source. of modulating vpotentials,:an electron' discharge device havingA electrodes Aincluding a cathode and a plurality of 1 auxiliary electrodes, Vcircuits including means for prod ug'ngl ya phase shift nyvoltage's of a frequency., ,or-the' order of the `frequency of said oscillating voltages' to be modulated coupling said tuned circuit to a pair of auxiliary electrodes in said ktube,said circuitsserving to impress said voltages substantially in phase quarature on said gaseoso alternating current voltages the wave length of which is to be controlled, owing in a tuned circuit, are impressed substantially in phase quadrature upon two of the vtube electrodes andthe ltubes gain varied by control potentials to produce va. variable reactive ellect between the electrodes of said tube to,vary the reactance of the said tuned circuit andthereby the wave length of said voltages, means for increasing said reactive effect and .thereby improving said Wave length control including an additional tube having input and output electrodes, a coupling for auxiliary electrodes to produce in said tube a reactive effect -'reected in said tuned circuit, means for amplifying one of said impressed voltages to increase said reactive etect, and means for varying saidreactive effect in vaccordance with signals to thereby vary the phase of the voltages supplied Y to said utilization circuit by way of said tuned circuitf'in accordance with signals comprising means -'coupling said source of modulating potentials with the cathode and an auxiliary electrode of said tube.l

.ingsubstantially-at the mean.frequency of said wave energy, an electron discharge device having an anode, a cathode and a plurality of control 4 tron discharge tube reaetancenof the type wherein impressing one of said voltages on'the input electrodes ofisaid additional tube for amplifying said one of said impressed voltages, and a coupling for impressing said amplified Voltage on one of said two electrodes of said rst tube, l

5.' In a Awave length modulation system, a tube reactance of the type whereinaltemating current voltages to'be modulated, flowing in a tuned circuit, are impressed substantially in phase quada system forl modulating the length of I`high` frequency wave energy set up in a high 'frequency circuit comprising a reactance resonatrature upon two of the tube electrodes and its gain varied in accordance with signals to producel a variable reactive effect between the said tube electrodes to vary the reactance of said tuned circuit and thereby the wave length of said voltages, means -for increasing said reactive effect and thereby improving said wave length modulation including an additional tube having input and output electrodes, a coupling for-impressing one of said voltages on the electrodes of said additional tube for amplifying said one of said impressed voltages, a coupling for impressing said amplified voltage on vone of said twoelectrodes of said rst tube, and a phase shifting network in one of said couplings for establishing'said subv stantially phase quadrature relationbetween the amplied voltage and theother voltage on said two electrodes of said tubefreactance.

MURRAY G. CROSBY. 

